Sisters

Recently I had a friend say to me...
I just love listening to you two.

Who? Us? Why?

Because I don't have a sister and it's fun to see how you two interact.

She was talking about my sister, Becky, and I exchanging casual banter.
I've been thinking about that comment for the past few days. Sisters. I know not every sister combination is like Becky and I, but wouldn't it be cool if most were? See, my sister and I are not just friends, we're best friends. I can be brutally honest with her and she with me. We will joke, laugh, cry, console, or not talk at all. Secrets don't exist between us and even hell couldn't keep us apart. That's our relationship. That's the only relationship that I've known with her. Sure we've had our ups and downs, but that's all they were. We, like most people should, just get over disputes.

This past Wednesday, I had a scare like I've never experience before. Becky was in a car accident, but at the time of receiving the phone call, I had no idea what condition she was in. And if she was ok I was then afraid that something would be wrong with her baby. I was afraid for her, for the baby. That's my sister. Nothing can be wrong with her. She is suppose to be perfectly fine. Period.

Praise to God that she and the baby are in perfect condition.

But, what is it with sisters? A sisters' bond is thick. More knotted together and closely woven. It's intertwined. There is an underlying connection between ourselves, our pasts, our presents, and our futures. We pick up where the other one drops off. We give and we take. And at the end of each day, we accept and respect eachothers differences.

Thank you, Christy, for helping me recognize my relationship with my sister.

Thank you, mom and dad, for creating me to be a sister.

Thank you, Becky, for being a wonderful big sister. We have been great sisters for 27+ years!!!

Annabelle and Katie Jane, I wish for you to grow closer everyday!! They have been sisters for 4 years!

Feel free to post a photo of you and your sister(s) and let us know how long you have been sisters!!!

rethink

Here's what I want. I want to be home with my kids. I want Shawn to be home with his kids. I want our kids to never know their parents to have to go to 'work'. I want to give Shawn a life that I can't even imagine for us. I want to fly first class and do it without blinking an eye. I want my kids to have the opportunity to try and do everything their hearts desire, and I say GO FOR IT! I want our alarm clock to be our kids. I want my parents and siblings and their families to be able to take trips with us, whenever and whereever we decide to go. I WANT MORE FAMILY TIME! And I know it's possible.

But most importantly, I want to give. I want to give back to the church that I love so deeply. I want to be able to go to Mass every morning and be able to take my kids with me. I would love to go to a country that needs help and be able to build schools, doctor's offices, and wells for clean drinking water.

I know you're probably thinking, Sarah you're absolutely nuts. That could never happen. Both parents able to stay home? Unless you win the lottery, yeah, right!  Yeah right is right! I know people everyday leaving their 'jobs' (and I say jobs because a lot of people don't like going to their careers) and staying home with their families. Taking trips, experiencing life, and expecting more from life. Expecting more for themselves. 

And so, I've been praying. Praying for a sign, or opportunity to cross my path with God pointing, saying, this is what you need to do.

It took almost a full year for me to get that sign. But I have no doubt in my mind that I've gotten it. Shawn and I get to help others, and that in return, it puts extra money in our pocket. We can do it from home and with little time put into it. It's a business. A very well designed, very lucrative business. And I'm talking a potentially six figure, side business. We both believe that this is how we'll get to stay home with our kids. Getting to watch our children grow into little people, and into adults.

I know there are many people who bring in very good pay checks. But I also know that they work 60+ hours a week. Waking up, going to work, getting home late, missing family functions and kids games, sleep, repeat. Is that life? Or living?

Recently, I was blessed to hear Frank Luntz talk. He is a close hand to many high authority people, including the President, because of his knowlege of politics and the English language. A man who works in Washington and sees the in's and out's of every political move, is afraid of our economics. He is worried about where our country is going. Well of course that frightened me also. But, he did say that businesses and companies that are multi-leveled are the most secure. They are teams. Working together. Everyone does better when they work as a team. He said, "Don't help them because it helps you. Help them because it helps America."

I liked that. I know about team work. I can do teams!

So Shawn and I joined a team. And that entire team, not just Shawn and I, want to see us reach our dreams. What business do you know of cares about your dreams? What business do you know of that will openly pray with you, asking for your dreams to be reached? I don't know of any.

At first, I had every excuse not to join this business, and 'team'. I'm too busy. I've got family obligations. I've got this and that to do. Ugh, I'm too (fill in the blank)________.
Guess what. Excuses don't set you free. Excuses won't do anything for you but keep you where you are. And most importantly, to me, excuses won't help me reach my dreams.

I believe with all my heart that God wanted you to read this. I don't know what you're wanting out of life and I'm definitely not trying to pressure anyone to join us, but I am trying to challenge people to rethink their life. Rethink how long it's going to take them to be free from a 9-5, part time, grave yard shift, disappointing, hair pulling, insecure job. Rethink that age of 65 when 'the man' says you get to live your life now. Rethink the possibilities of what God may have in store for you if you took a chance.

Rethink.

Live life extreme. Live first class.

re-dos, makeovers, and mess-ups

So, do you remember back in the first week of January, I wrote about 2011 being my year? The year that I take on the jobs, hobbies, and interests that I've been wanting to do but have put off for some unseen reason? Back when I was saying how everything just feels new? Well, I'm adding to that list...of newness...and it's going to be furniture!

Furniture? Yep. Cause, I like it. (I know you asked yourself Why)

I won't be designing or building it, but refurbishing it. Taking the old, and turning it into something neat and new. I'll be re-doing. Scraping, scrubbing, and sanding away years, and painting and staining on modern. Call it 'My Going Green Contribution'.

 Do I think every piece is going to turn out to be a master piece? No. I know better. There will definitely be some trial-and-error involved. I'll have days that I'm going to put my head down, cover my eyes and think to myself, what the hell am I doing?!?!?!

But I'm not worried. It's a hobby, not a job. I know I'll have mess-ups and oopses. Just like my Spanish I'm learning, I'm going to make mistakes. Some things might come out alittle funny. But that's OK. Because for every 10 I mess-up, 1 will turn out perfect! (I'm hoping.)

And now we are at the part where you can get involved in all this fun action! If you or someone you know has any solid wood, must be solid wood, furniture that you are getting rid of, please let me know. I would be happy to take a look at it.

But for now, most importantly, get outside and look up! See that magnificent gift God has giving each of us! Life might be hard sometimes, but He has always promised us a new day!

doing little

What class is this for you? 5th? 6th?

No this is just my 4th.

Have you done this before?

No this is the first time.

Wow! You are really doing great.

Thank you. I don't feel great compared to others in the class.

Oh no. You're really hanging in there. Keep it up!



Those are some serious words of encouragement when you feel like a complete idiot in class. It's important, though difficult, for me to remember that yoga is a practice. I won't be and can't be perfect. No one is. Everyday is different. Even though Bikram has the same 26 poses every class, no 2 classes are the alike. Even for the ones that have been there 5, 10, a lifetime number of years, every class is just as different for them as it is for me. 

The first day there were things I wasn't able to do. I, frankly compared to others, was tight as a board. But now, I can bend, move, and twist because of the little nudges and pushes to my body. I talk to it like it's completely seperate of myself. "Come on. I know you can do this. Just relax and I'll let you take over." Awesome changes have occurred because of this talk!

The soreness is gone. The cramping has quit. Now it is about the practice. Working hard at pushing my body. Changing my body. And changing my thought process about growing in this practice. Hot yoga is different, it is a discipline, and in its own hot, sticky way, beautiful.

As the teacher says, "Do little. Do right. Don't just hang out in a hot room."

4 weeks to go...

sweat

When I think of cleansing, I think gross, nasty, and simply disgusting thoughts. I think of a 2 week chalk-drink program that makes you lose everything including your self dignity. I think of a line from the book, I'm With Fatty where Edward embarrassing tells his vulgar tale of a colon cleanse experience saying, I get to my car and with no warning, I shit myself. Cleansing just doesn't sound like something I want to do. Nope not for me.

That brings me to this point. When I think of cleansing, I sure as heck don't think of yoga. Thank goodness no one said if I try yoga it'll be like a cleanse, because frankly, I wouldn't have gone. I don't need to be doing a downward dog, and I cleanse myself.

So why am I relating yoga with a cleanse? Because that is exactly what it is. Yesterday completed my first week of Bikram Yoga. It's hot. A whopping 104 degrees hot. It's humid. Like breathing jello, as my husband would say. And it's 90 minutes long. Yes 90. For an hour and a half I breath, sweat, stretch, cramp, repeat. It's exhausting. Both physically and mentally.

All students have to stay completely silent for the entire 90 minutes. Only the teacher talks. So here is the continual conversation between the teacher and my inner thoughts...

Let's go into Dandayamana Dhanurasana.

What did she just say? How many a's are in that word? I'll have to count later.

All your weight on your left leg, locking the knee, grab the inside of your right ankle. Extending the the left arm over head.

Okay. This isn't so bad. I'm a little wobbley but I think I can do this. Oh, uh, oh no I'm falling....shoo, glad I didn't land on the lady beside me.  I'll try again. Left leg locked, right ankle grab. Nope that wasn't it. Twist the hand around and then grab. Okay got it now.

Once you have your left knee locked, start kicking the right leg out and back towards the wall. Leaning forward with your head.

What? Are you serious? I'm happy standing upright on one leg. I'm going to end up on my face, lady. Oh man I don't want to be the only one in the class not doing it. Damn peer pressure. Here we go...

Lean completely forward making a 90 degree angle between your left leg and torso. Kicking harder and keeping that left leg locked.


I get it. Lock it. But I'm not making no 90 degree angle. How can I hold this when I have so much sweat in my eyes I can't even see the mirrored wall in front of me. I don't think I can hold this any longer. I'm dying. The sweat from my hands, legs, feet, ankles are making me lose my grip. I never knew my ankles could sweat.  Oh crap! Cramping! PLEASE God how long are we holding this pose?  

Kick the right leg. Kick and kick and kick and kick.

I'M KICKING! ----------------------thoughts go blank--------------------------.

And relax.

Oh. 85 minutes to go.




As torcherous as this may sound, it really is quite pleasant. I know you're probably thinking, why would anyone ever do this, I'm never going to do it, that sounds horrible, I still recommend everyone try atleast once in their life. It is a purifying practice. It is a true cleanse. Leaving everything you have on your mat. Sweat will drip from places you never thought possible, and it feels good. Already in one week, I'm noticing a difference.

Yes it's hot. Yes it's long. Yes it's hard. But YES it's worth it! Wish me luck on my Bikram Yoga journey!

5 weeks to go....

an english past

Maybe it's the red wine, or Italian food, or the incredible Irish song I just heard on the radio that inspired me to write this, but either way I couldn't help but sit down at my computer at 11:24pm and start jotting. My thoughts, my desires, my longing.

4, short, glorious months left me a new person and somewhere on a piece of soil a half a world away, a part of my soul is still there. Roaming on unfamiliar, but oh so familiar land. I miss it. Every so often, I find myself looking back to something I will never be able to grasp again. A love. A love so real I can still, to this day, 4 years later, taste it. A love of the culture, the language, the music, history, smells, sounds, tastes, feelings, the everything. To call it traveling is an understatement. I was exploring and discovering.

The friends I met while there, will forever hold a spot in my heart. Each of them, in their special unique way have imprinted their inscription on me. Thank you. I love each of you dearly.

So England, and Europe all together, it was not easy to let go of you, and it is just as difficult to not think of you often, but I am deeply fond of you. I wish for everyone, that they can explore all of your nooks and crannies. All of your magical stories. Your richness. You are, in you're own under exclaimed way, beautiful. Thank you for all you gave me.

Cheers, my Friend. We will meet again.

Star Spangle what????



Food. Check.



Drinks. Check.









Iced mugs. Check.

Great company to spend Super Bowl 45 with. Check. Check. And check.







If you know Shawn and I, then you know we're not big into watching sports. But, when it comes to a national experience, then you better believe we are going to join in of the festivities! Pop a top and give us a firey hot wing and we're set.

Then the uncontrollable mockery starts and confusions settled onto our faces. "What did she just say? Is she...could she have...how many syllables...those weren't the words." Oo-oohhh sa-ay, ca-ann you-ou see-e-e-e? By-y-y-y-y the-he dawn-ns... Pitiful! It's our national athem! Respect it. Don't butcher it! I vividly remember hearing out dogs start to howl...she was hurting their poor ears. Camera crew should have cut away and told everyone they were having difficulties. But with all that said and our poor Steelers not winning, it was a very lovely night.

No we didn't go anywhere and no one came over, but we had a FAN-freaking-TASTIC time! Super Bowl tradition number 2 for us!